Corbett: PA Budget Could Be Late, Might Include Fracking Tax

It’s that time of year when the immovable object of the Pennsylvania Legislature meets the … immovable object of the state’s budget deadline. (We realize that’s not how the cliché goes, but we stand by the characterization.)

Gov. Tom Corbett says he’ll make do with a late budget for Pennsylvania this year and possibly renege on his no-taxes campaign pledge.

“Given the difficulty of this budget, I have allowed — I have informed — the legislators, we need to get this done, and we need to get it done right, rather than quickly,” said Corbett at a news conference Tuesday. “So, if we are not able to finish by June 30, we are not able to finish by June 30.”

The Morning Call adds that Corbett is demanding changes to the state’s liquor and pension systems as part of any budget he signs. Corbett wants to re-direct the pension money into education — but schools could suffer if the state doesn’t beat the budget deadline:

If the governor and Legislature do not pass a budget by the deadline, Pennsylvania school districts will be left with even more uncertainty. School districts are required by law to pass balanced budgets by June 30 regardless of what happens in Harrisburg.

“It certainly leaves us in a certain amount of limbo,” said Allentown schools Superintendent Russ Mayo.

If the budget stalemate goes on too long and Corbett’s promised increases in school funding do not come, Mayo said, the Allentown School Board will have to reopen the district’s budget and cut an additional 29 jobs for a total of 129 job losses next fiscal year.

Budget Secretary Charles Zogby indicated that with the exception of increases in the personal income and sales taxes, other taxes are in play, including the severance tax on natural gas extraction that Corbett has so far opposed.

“There’s multiple options that we can look at,” Zogby said. “And I think the governor’s willing to talk about all of those options except the exceptions that I’ve [identified]. I’m not ruling out a severance tax. You didn’t hear me rule out a severance tax.”